Arch support



Feb. 6, 1934. J c, HOWELL 1,945,688

ARCH SUPPORT Filed May 8, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Joseph C. HoweATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1934. c. HOWELL 1,945,688

ARCH SUPPORT Filed May 8, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Joseph C.Howell ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNlTED ST' was This inventionrelates to the art of corrective supports for fallen or deformed archesof the human foot.

The invention broadly resides in a corrective support for the severallongitudinal and transverse arches and in the provision of means foradjusting the elevation thereof to provide for the individualrequirement for each of the several arches of the wearer.

The invention further provides an arch supporting plate arranged insuperposed position with relation to the heel and instep portions of theinsole and which extends forwardly thereof over the sole portion whichunderlies the ball of the foot.

More specifically the invention has for an object a longitudinallyarched supporting plate which is connected at its edge portions to thesole of the shoe in the region of the instep in such a manner as toprevent longitudinal and lateral displacement thereof but which permitsof adjustments of the arched portions to elevate the same with referenceto the insole at the points of connection and which further allows thefree ends of the plate to move and flex with the bending of the shoe.

The invention further contemplates a flexible arch support of theindicated character including a pair of improved flexible spring leafstructures built into the sole of the shoe, co-operative adjustableelevating and supporting means carried by the plate and the spring leafstructure for adjustably supporting the arched portion of the plate inspaced relation above the insole of the shoe and locking means carriedby the said supporting means for securing the plate in set or fixedelevation.

The invention also has in view a support for the metatarsal arch whichis adjustable in eleva tion and which is also adjustable longitudinallyand transversely on lines parallel to the normal major and minor axes ofthe support as well as angularly with respect to a medial line extendingfrom the heel to the toe portion of the shoe.

With these and other objects in view the invention also resides incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts whichwill be more fully described and claimed hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1 is a bottom plan view of a shoe equipped with the arch supportembodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the arch sup port in applied positionupon the insole of the shoe and with a portion of the arched plate cutaway to show a portion of the spring leaf supporting structure.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the arch supporting plate.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line l-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 6-5 of Figure2 illustrating the metatarsal arch support and its adjustable connectionwith the sole of the shoe.

Figure 7 is an enlarged bottom plan View of the metatarsal arch supportwith a portion of the leather covering removed to show the slottedstructure or" the plate forming the foundation of the support.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional View through the metatarsalsupport.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the several partswhich adjustably connect the metatarsal support with the sole of theshoe.

Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the several parts of eachof the adjustable supports connecting the longitudinalarch plate withthe sole of the shoe.

For the purpose of illustration, the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in its application to a right shoe. It is not theintention, however, to limit the same to any form or style of boots orshoes as the invention is applicable to footwear generally.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 10 indicates anarch support which is so constructed and arranged on the insole ll ofthe shoe 12 as to provide a resilient and corrective support for each ofthe arches of the foot. The support 10 includes a spring metal plate 13which constitutes the direct support for the arches of the foot. Thisplate overlies the heel and instep portions of the insole l1 and extendsforwardly over the forward sole portion which underlies the ball of thefoot. Forwardly of its heel portion, the plate 13 is archedlongitudinally and is provided with means for supporting and adjustingthe height of the arched portions thereof substantially centrally undereach of the arches of the foot.

Two of these supporting and adjusting means indicated generally by thereference characters 14 and 15 are arranged under the side edge portionsrespectively of the plate 13 on a line extending substantiallytransversely of the instep portion and substantially centrally under theinner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot respectively.

A third supporting and adjusting means 16 is arranged substantiallycentrally of the forward end portion 1'7 of the plate 13 so that it isdisposed substantially centrally under the metatarsal arch of the foot.

The supporting and adjusting means 14 and 15 fixedly connects the plate13 with the sole of the shoe in such a manner as to prevent lateral andlongitudinal displacement thereof but permitting of independentadjustments in elevation of each of the side edge portions of the plate.The forward portion 17 is freely supported upon the supporting andadjusting means 16 by virtue of which it is free to flex and bend withthe movement of the shoe sole. This portion of the plate 13 has its edge18 curved to define a substantially semi-circular arc and is providedwith alternate long and short inwardly extending slots 19 which dividethe same into a series of flexible segments 20.

The supporting and adjusting means 14 and 15 each comprises aninteriorly threaded tubular member 21 having a flanged upper end 22which is riveted as at 23 or otherwise secured to the plate 13, thetubular portion 24 thereof being of a size to slide within a guidesleeve 25. The guide sleeve 25 is disposed in an opening 26 extendingthrough the inner and outer soles of the shoe and has its upper endportion recessed and arranged in an opening 2'7 in a spring leafassemblage 28 with its extreme end crimped or flanged over upon theupper face of the assemblage thus connecting the sleeve thereto. A screw29 having a flanged head 30 is arranged against the lower end of theguide sleeve 25 with its threaded shank 31 engaging the threaded openingin the tubular portion 24. This screw is held in position against theguide sleeve by means of a face plate 32 countersunk in a recess in theouter face of the shoe sole and having a central opening 33 thereinthrough which the head of the screw protrudes to permit of turning ofthe same by any suitable instrument for effecting the independentadjustments of the height of the arch plate 13 at its point ofconnection with the tubular member 21. When the said plate is adjustedto the elevation desired a locking screw 35 arranged in an opening 36 inthe said face plate is adapted to engage either one of the threadedopenings 37 in the flange 30 of the screw 29 by virtue of which thescrew 29 is locked against further turning movement thus holding theplate 13 in fixed elevation.

The face plate 32 is riveted to the shoe sole by rivets 34 which extend.therethrough and also secure the spring leaf assemblage 28 to the innersole 11. The rivets 34 also draw the plate 32 tightly against the flange30 of the screw 29 for providing a water tight connection.

As shown in the drawings the spring leaf assemblage 28 under the innerlongitudinal arch consists of three leaves while the assemblage underthe outer longitudinal arch consists of two leaves only. It is to beunderstood. however. that these leaves may be of any desired number tosuit the particular requirement. The leaves of these assemblages maytaper in thickness from their points of attachment with the guide sleeve25 to their outer ends, each of the upper leaves thereof beingrelatively shorter than its adjacent bottom leaf to provide a steppedconstruction at each end.

Due to the fact that the rear terminal of the spring'leaf assemblage 28freely contacts with the insole at a point over the forepart of the heeland the forward terminal of the said leaf assemblage freely contactswith the insole at a point where the sole engages with the ground, theresiliency of the sole structure of the shoe is augmented between thesepoints by the said assemblage which indirectly receives the weight ofthe wearer thrust upon the arched plate 13 in the region of the instepthrough the medium of the tubular member 21 directly connected to thesaid arched plate, the screw 29 transmitting such weight to the faceplate 32 which in turn pulls the rivets 34 downwardly against the springleaf structure.

The leaf spring assemblages 23 thus disposed, one on each side portionof the instep of the shoe, receive the weight of the wearer thrust uponthe arched portion of the plate 13 in the region of the instep anddistribute such weight over a substantial area of the instep portion ofthe shoe. The rear terminal portion of each assemblage over the heel ofthe shoe is widened or flared laterally and is bifurcated to provide apair of rearwardly divergent flexible end furcations, by virtue of whichthe rear terminal portion of the assemblage will flex or bend freelywith the movement of the shoe sole.

The supporting and adjusting means 16 provides a construction by virtueof which the forward portion of the plate 13 may be elevated to theheight desired above the insole as hereinbefore described. This meansincludes an ovate shaped spring metal plate 40 upon which is disposed apad 41 composed of rubber, felt or similar soft material and having aconvex upper surface which pad forms a cushion for the portion of theplate 13 under the metatarsal arch of the foot. The plate 40 and pad 41are enclosed by two leather or other flexible coverings 42 and 43 gluedor otherwise secured together at their edges to form a sheath whichextends beyond the periphery of the plate 40. .Extending inwardly fromthe front and side edges of the plate 40 are slots 44 of varying lengthswhich divide the plate into a series of peripheral segments which lend ahigh degree of flexibility to the marginal edge of the plate. Underlyingthe leather covering 43 and connected to the plate 40 by rivets 45 is aplate 46 which is provided with longitudinally disposed parallel rows ofequally spaced threaded openings 4"]. This plate is selectivelyconnected to the flanged end of an interiorly threaded tubular member48, the flange of which is provided with similarly disposed rows ofopenings 49, the plate 46 being shiftable laterally to either side orlongitudinally upon the said flange to selectively align the openings4'? and 49 after which screws 50 are employed to engage with and securethe plate and tubular member in selected relation. The outer surface ofthe tubular portion of the member 48 and the bore of the sleeve 51 areformed with slidably engageable longitudinally extending ribs andgrooves 52 and 53. This permits of the telescopic engagement of thetubular portion of the member 48 with the bore of the sleeve 51 so thatthe member 48 may be disposed in the sleeve 51 with the plate 40 at anydesired angle with respect to the longitudinal medial line of the shoe.The flanged head 54 of the screw 55 similar to the screw 28 is disposedagainst the lower end of the sleeve 51 with its threaded shank 56engaging the threaded opening in the tubular member 48. This screw isheld in position for swivel turning movement against the lower end ofthe said sleeve by a face plate 57 similar to the face plate 32. Theplate 57 is countersunk in a recess in the outer shoe sole and securedby rivets 58 which also secure the flange 59 of the sleeve 51 in acountersunk recess in the inner sole. The head of the screw projectsthrough an opening 59 in the plate 57 to permit of turning of the sameby a proper tool for effecting a raising or lowering of the plate 40 andpad 4:1 with a consequent raising or lowering of the forward ends of theplate 13. When the said 1 plate is adjusted to the elevation desired alooking screw secures the screw 55 against further turning movement,thus securing the forwar end of the plate 13 in fixed elevation.

T e rivets 58 secure the sleeve 51 in a position in the opening 39 inthe shoe sole and retain the face plate 57 in position against the headof the screw 55 providing a water tight connection and preventing theentrance of moisture into the shoe sole through the opening 39.

The plate 13 is preferably arched to conform to the arch of the foot inthe region of the instep and has its side edges and heel portion shapedto the contour of the last of the shoe.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there is provided an archsupporting plate substantially co-extensive with the heel and instepportions of the shoe and which contacts with the insole portion over theheel of the shoe and at its forwardend and between these portions isarched longitudinally and is provided with means for selectivelyelevating the portions thereof under the several arches of the foot.

ihe arch supporting and adjusting means 16 may constitute an independentsupport for the metatarsal arch, it being understood that the plate 40may be selectively positioned with any one of the ribs 52 on the tubularmember 48 in engagement with any one of the grooves 53 in the sleeve 51.

What is claimed is:

1-. The combination with a shoe, of a longitudinally arched plate, aspring leaf assemblage arranged upon a side edge portion of the insoleof the shoe with its rear portion flared laterally and bifurcate toprovide a pair of rearwardly divergent flexible end furcations, meansconnected to the arched plate and to the said as- Semblage supportingthe arch of the plate in spaced relation upon the assemblage, saidassemblage receiving the weight of the wearer thrust upon a side portionof the said plate in the region of the instep and distributing the sameover a substantial area of the instep of the shoe and said flexible endfurcations providing means by virtue of which the rear end portion ofthe vWardly divergent flexible end furcations means connecting the plateto the spring leaf assemblage, said assemblage receiving a portion ofthe weight of the wearer thrust upon the said plate in the region of theinstep and distributing the same over i a.- substantial area of the shoesole and said flexible end furcations providing means by virtue of whichthe rear end portion of the assemblage will flex or bend with themovement of the shoe sole.

3. The combination with a shoe, of an arch support including an archedplate, said plate overlying the heel of the shoe and extending forwardlyover the instep portion thereof, a plurality of spring leaf assemblagesarranged in superimposed position on the insole of the shoe, saidassemblages each having its rear portion flared laterally and bifurcatedto provide a pair of rearwardly divergent flexible end furcations, andmeans connected to the arched plate and to the'said assemblagessupporting the arch of the plate in spaced relation above theassemblages, said assemblages receiving the weight of the wearer thrustupon the said arch plate in the region of the instep and distributingthe same over a substantial area of the instep of the shoe.

4. In an arch support in combination with a shoe, a plate, a sleevesecured in an opening in the shoe sole, a tubular member connected withsaid plate, the cylindrical outer surface of said member and the bore ofthe sleeve being provided with engageable longitudinally'extending ribsand grooves permitting of selective telescopic engagement of the saidmember and said sleeve with the said plate arranged at any desired anglewith respect to the longitudinal medial line of the shoe.

5. In an arch support in combination with a shoe, an arched plate, asupport under the forward end of said plate, said support including anovate shaped plate, a pad arranged upon said plate and having alongitudinal and transverse convex upper surface, a sleeve secured in anopening in the shoe sole, and a tubular member connected with the saidovate shaped plate, the cylindrical outer surface of said member and thebore of the sleeve being provided with engageable longitudinallyextending ribs and grooves permitting of selective telescopic engagementof said member and said sleeve with the said ovate shaped plate and padarranged under the said arched plate at any desired angle with respectto the longitudinal medial line of the shoe.

6. In an arch support in combination with a shoe, an arched plate, asupport under the forward end of said plate, said support including aflexible spring metal plate, a pad arranged upon said last mentionedplate, said pad having a longitudinal and transverse convex uppersurface. a sleeve secured in an opening in the shoe sole, and a tubularmember connected with the said flexible spring metal plate, thecylindrical outer surface of said member and the bore of the sleevebeing provided with engageable longitudinally extending ribs and groovespermitting of selective telescopic engagement of the said memher andsaid sleeve with the said flexible spring metal plate and pad arrangedunder the said arched plate at any desired angle with respect to thelongitudinal medial line of the shoe.

7. In an arch support in combination with a shoe, an arched plate, asupport under the forward end of the said arched plate, said supportincluding a flexible metal plate, a sleeve secured in an opening in theshoe sole, a plate secured to the under side of said flexible plate andhaving longitudinally extending rows of equally spaced threadedopenings, and a tubular member having a flanged upper end provided withcorrespondingly arranged openings, said last mentioned plate beingshiftable laterally and longitudinally upon the said flanged end toselectively align the openings therein, screws arranged in said openingssecuring said plate and said tubular member in adjusted assembledrelation, the cylindrical outer surface of the said tubular member andthe bore of said sleeve being provided with engageable longitudinallyextending ribs and grooves permitting of selective telescopic engagementof said tubular member and said sleeve with the said flexible metalplate disposed under said arched plate at any desired angle with respectto the longitudinal medial line of the shoe.

8. In an arch support in combination with a shoe, a flexible metalplate, a sleeve secured in an opening in the shoe sole, a plateconnected with the said flexible plate, a tubular member arranged insaid sleeve and having a flanged upper end, said last mentioned plateand the flange of said tubular member being provided with correspondinglongitudinally extending rows of equally spaced openings, said lastmentioned plate being shiftable laterally and longitudinally upon saidflanged end with the openings therein selectively aligning for adjustingthe said flexible metal plate laterally and longitudinally under thearch of the wearer, and means arranged in said openings in the saidplate and flange for securing the said plates and tubular member inadjusted assembled relation.

9. In an arch support in combination with a shoe, a plate, a sleevesecured in an openingin the shoe sole, and a tubular member connectedwith said plate, the cylindrical outer surface of said member and thebore of the sleeve being provided with engageable longitudinallyextending ribs and grooves permitting of selective telescopic engagementof said member and said sleeve with any one of the ribs on the tubularmember in engagement with any one of the grooves in the sleeve wherebythe said plate may be arranged under an arch of the wearer in variousfixed adjusted positions.

10. In an arch support in combination with a shoe, a plate, a paddisposed upon said plate having a longitudinal and transverse convexupper surface, a sleeve secured in an opening in the shoe sole, and atubular member connected with said plate, the entire cylindrical outersurface of said member and the entire bore of the sleeve bei'ng providedwith engageable longitudinally extending ribs and grooves permitting ofselective tele scopic engagement of the said member and said sleeve withany one of the ribs on the tubular member in engagement with any one ofthe grooves in the sleeve whereby the said plate and pad may beselectively disposed in circumferential adjusted fixed position withrespect to the sleeve and sole of the shoe.

JOSEPH C. HOWELL.

